MNU President Sandi Mowat has been on radio and in the newspaper speaking out on the issue of the recent death of a patient in the HSC waiting room. In an interview on CBC radio, she said that, as a nurse who formerly worked in the HSC E.R., she knows the level of competence and professionalism that the emergency room provides. "I am 100% behind the fact that those nurses were doing everything they could to take care of patients that evening." 

In the Winnipeg Free Press she described charges of racism as "ridiculous". "A high percentage of aboriginal patients are treated there daily" she is quoted as saying, "I'm sure the nurses there are committed to the patients who come in". Mowat said she is particularly incensed at accusations by politicians that there is "a culture of neglect" in our health care system.

"I was most angered by this 'culture of neglect' that's being bandied about in political circles because there is not for one minute that I would ever imagine that there is any nurses that work in emergency rooms anywhere in the province that are neglecting their patients."

She told CBC that rather than making this a political and media event we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that this man died and it is a tragic event that the nurses are taking very hard.
Mowat said that until a review of the occurrence is completed no one knows what happened.
"I do know that the staff in that department are grieving for Mr. Sinclair. Many knew him well. Those nurses are absolutely committed to the population they serve."  

Sandi Mowat speaks out on the HSC Incident ...

	"Up To Speed" with host Margaux Watt, Sept. 25, 2008 (Courtesy of CBC Radio)
	"Information Radio" with host Terry McLeod, Sept. 26, 2008 (Courtesy of CBC Radio)